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From magic to meltdown: Why Arsenal's season turned sour

Injuries, inexperience, questionable captaincy, lack of squad depth - they all contributed to a season that began so well but ended trophyless for Arsene Wenger's men.

by hamzah khan on 15 May 2008

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"'William Gallas’s breakdown at Birmingham certainly did not help. His leadership abilities have been questioned...and Wenger was wrong in the first place to award him the captaincy'"

There have been fewer Premier League meltdowns as catastrophic as Arsenal’s during the season just finished. Their downfall can be attributed to a few key variables that troubled the team throughout the latter half of the season.

Injuries hassle any team, but Arsene Wenger’s men have suffered through the worst. After scoring three goals in his previous two League starts, Eduardo da Silva’s broken leg was the most notable - and Wenger’s striking options were further agitated when Robin van Persie was injured.

Kolo Toure’s season was riddled with little injuries and Philippe Senderos could not step into the role with inconsistent performances. Tomas Rosicky also missed out while Emmanuel Eboue was forced into midfield, an experiment that went horribly wrong. One of Arsenal’s best players, Bacary Sagna, also suffered an injury late on and squad depth could have benefited the team greatly.

The African Cup of Nations saw Arsenal lose a couple of key players - and it was then that their slide began. They dropped points against Birmingham and Aston Villa, the loss of Toure in defence hurt, and with Senderos struggling, there were few other choices in that position. While rotation may not please everyone, it is necessary to ‘rest’ players occasionally throughout the season.

William Gallas’s breakdown at Birmingham certainly did not help, either. His leadership abilities have been questioned, and it is a mystery as to whether he’ll have the armband next season. Wenger was wrong in the first place to award him the captaincy.

Plainly, Arsenal’s overall lack of experience cost them points throughout the season. Most of the players had not even been in the Premier League for a whole season and inexperience, mixed with poor leadership, led to the Gunners’ fall from grace.

In Wenger’s first stint, he brought in Patrick Vieira (23 at the time), Dennis Bergkamp (26) and Freddie Ljungberg (21) Arsenal did not win the title until two years later, which can be attributed to more experience.

Wenger has a winning squad; they went undefeated the whole first half of the season but eventually made a rapid fall from the top. This can be accounted for through injuries, national team duties, lack of leadership and inexperience.

Comments (22)

on May 15, 2008 on May 15, 2008

Nothing new in this post except it focuses too much on the negative which to be honest has been done to death. We need to look forward. Also Dennis Bergkamp was at Arsenal before Arsene Wenger as Rioch signed him

by Clockend Lloydie on May 15, 2008

Which may be dictated to by the number of words you have allocated to your article? Your use of the words, 'catastrophic' and 'meltdown' are hyperbole at best and idiotic at worst. You conveniently forget that, to a man, we were told that Arsenal would finish this season outside of the top four and that (laughably) Tottenham were going to break into that top four. Everyone knew the hand that Wenger had been dealt: no transfer kitty and many inexperienced young players. Arsenal had a great pre-season, winning the Amsterdam Tournament and The Emirates Cup. Injuries played their part, no doubt about that, as did the lack of squad depth in terms of experience. I believe Wenger's big mistake was letting Diarra go to Portsmouth and allowing Eboue too many starts. However, that does not excuse the lack of goals from midfield later on in the campaign, nor the very obvious lack of form suffered by Kolo Toure on his return from the ANC. As for Gallas' captaincy, up until the Birmingham game, everyone was praising his leadership! Senderos performed well in Kolo's absence. He was undone against Liverpool in the CL. For your information, Wenger won the Double in his first full season at the club and Bruce Rioch was the manager when Bergkamp arrived at Highbury. Next season, I am hoping to have Rosicky and Van Persie back. Diaby in central midfield and Theo playing wing/centre forward. We need a goalkeeper, two centrebacks (Djourou is back though), another attack breaking, good passing central midfielder and another striker.

on May 15, 2008 on May 15, 2008

Ironic how liverpool were meant to finish top and arsenal were thought to be fourth or fifth yet liverpools season has been a success but arsenals a failiure.

by Emirates Stadium on May 15, 2008

Check your facts - Arsene Wenger didn't bring in Dennis Bergkamp!!!

by Val B on May 15, 2008

Since when is coming 3rd in a very tough competition i.e. the EPL a catastrophy? Especially when no one expected them to even be in the top 4 more so the top 3? Even when the rest of England said Spurs will knock the Arsenal out of the top 4.

by Goofle on May 15, 2008

Gallas has performed excellently this season and only a retard would think otherwise.

by twarp twarp on May 15, 2008

boring comments from readers, yawn

by d c on May 15, 2008

actually wenger joined in the 96/97 season and didnt sign Ljungberg till the 98/99 season. Bergkamp was there before wenger arrived.

by d c on May 15, 2008

And one of the main reasons for us not pushing for the title was that wenger refused to go out and strengthen the squad in the winter break when we were ahead

by the one on May 15, 2008

firstly, if you don't know what you are talking about DO NOT OPEN YOUR MOUTH!!! secondly, Bruce Rioch bought Bergkamp and Vieira was 19 NOT 21 when he arrived. Lastly, the only players who hadn't been in the premier league for a whole season were sagna, eduardo and fabianski...hardly "most of the players" get your facts right

on May 15, 2008 on May 15, 2008

Not enough Englishmen, the top two have plenty!!!!!!!

by adf energy on May 15, 2008

And all the teams below us have plenty of english players too, barcelona, real madrid, milan, inter etc have none woop-dee-doo

on May 15, 2008 on May 15, 2008

Nice to see the Knives Are out early this year, yes it's been a strange season, and we've under performed, but still we won something, thrashed our neighbours (BOTH OF THEM...AND HOW), and beat a good if poorly managed side in the final, still get great support (sold out time and time again) not bad for a side in the bottom half of the table, and spend out (before the season's ended) on a potential star...yes I can see why others the hate us, we're crap, but still end up grabbing the headlines, sticking two fingers up at the rest, only Spurs could do this, and its one of the joys of supporting them, you never know whats next?, as I said before 'it only takes one man to start a revolution'

by J C on May 15, 2008

One man to start a revolution, is that why youve had about 15 managers in the last 10 years!

by gunman arsenal 4 life on May 15, 2008

where we lost the title . in my eyes where we lost the title is when we go to a place called berminham. at that very moment crappy taylor made that tackle .from then u could see, the whole team was in a different state of mind, the performance level dropt, and they dident want to know anymore.because all they could think about was what they've just seen,a team mate bone sticking through his sox with his foot dangling.then it hit home,that could have been me.so from then every tackle they're about to make the memory of what happen eddy comes back,so they be abit more cautious, instead of given it everything. as we all could see what happen in our following games,where we drew with wigan, midbro,villa and the likes of these team,no disrespct to either of them but these the teams we normally thrash. that's my view,what you think.

by kofi sarpong on May 16, 2008

my of the arsenal team is that i suggest to give captain band to the one who can take the arsenal team to glory and brave man who can controll all the players in the pitch and good job to wenger and greetings to all arsenal players the fans congrat for the third position.

by Lawrence Lee on May 16, 2008

yet liverpools season has been a success but arsenals a failiure.

by what measure was Liverpool's season considered a success? By whom? Everton?

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